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A 9 8 2 .l. I 2 F y a M Q 1 d 1 JA e t n e t a P N I 3 M 4 M 4 0 y 2 5HM N NITE grates WILE S. MILLER, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR OFTVVO-THIRDS TO O. E. LAWVTON AND E. A. HAMMOND, OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 520,443, dated May 29,1894.

Application filed February 24, 1894- Serial No, 501,413- (No model.)

be readily uncoupled from the top or side of a car, to avoid thenecessity of going between cars, either in. coupling or uncoupling.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a car couplingconstructed in accordance with this invention, and shown applied to acar. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 3 is a detail view ofa portion of the uncoupling mechanism.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawlngs.

1 designates a draw-head mounted beneath the car 2, and provided with aflaring mouth, and having in its bottom a longitudinal opening 3, topermit a vertically swinging coupling hook 4 to swing downward torelease a link 5. The coupling hook is arranged Within the draw-head,and is normally held elevated in engagement with the link by a spiralspring 6, mounted upon a plate 7, and engaging the lower face of theshank of the coupling hook. The coupling hook is held depressed againstthe action of the spring preparatory to automatic coupling by a'swinging gravity catch 9, pivoted at its upper end at the top of thedraw-head, and having its lower portion arranged in an opening 10 of theshank of the hook, and provided near its lower end with a shoulder 11for engaging the shank of the hook at the front edge or end of theopening 10. The opening 10 of the shank of the hook is arranged directlyin rear of the head; and

the link 57in entering the mouth of the drawhead engages and movesrearward the swinging catch, and thereby releases the coupling hookwhich springs upward into engagement with the link. The head of the hookfits in the opening 12 of the top of the draw-head to lock the hookagainst outward movement; the swinging catch is at all times in theopening 10 and retains the hook in proper position. The link rests uponthe lower transverse portion 14 of the front of the draw-head, and doesnot tend to depress the coupling hook or pull the same downward, aswould be the case were the entire bottom of the drawhead open and werethe draw-heads located at different elevations, which latter conditionis often present.

The operation of uncoupling may be performed from the side of a car by ahorizontal 7o shaft 15, which is connected by a chain 17 with an arm 18,of a rock-shaft 19; the latter has its arm 18 projecting inward, and ispro- ,vided with a central outwardly projecting arm 20, connected by achain 21 with the coup ling hook; and by rotating the shaft 15 therock-shaft is turned to depress the coupling hook. A pawl 22 and ratchet23 is provided for the shafts 16, to hold the coupling hook againstcoupling when it is desired to shift cars in making up a train or thelike.

The operation of uncoupling is performed from the top of the car by avertical shaft 24, which is connected by a chain 25 with an arm 26 ofthe shaft 19, the arms 18 and 26 being located at opposite sides of thedraw-head.

It will be seen that the car coupling is simple and comparativelyinexpensive in construction, that it is capable of ready automaticcoupling, and it is adapted to be quickly uncoupled, without goingbetween cars.

Instead of employing a link 5, which is provided at each end with anopening, an ordinary link may be used.

Changes in the form, proportion, and the 5 minor details of constructionmay be resorted to withoutdeparting from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

What I claim is- 1. In a car coupling, the combination-of a draw-headprovided at its bottom with a longitudinal opening, and having atransverse portion 14 arranged in advance of said opening, a pivotallymounted hook arranged in the draw-head to engage a link and adapted tobe depressed through the opening to uncouple a link, and provided withan opening 10, a spring mounted in the draw-head and engaging the lowerface of the hook and holding the latter normally elevated, and aswinging catch arranged in the draw-head and having its lower portionextending through the opening 10 of the hook and provided near its lowerend with a shoulder for engaging the hook, substantially as described.

2. In a car coupling, the combination with a car, of a draw-headprovided at its bottom in rear of its outer end with a longitudinalopening, a coupling hook pivotally mounted in the draw-head and arrangedto engage the hook, a plate extending across the opening of thedraw-head, aspiral spring mounted upon the plate and engaging the lowerface of the hook, a rock-shaft mounted on the car and extending beneaththe draw-head and provided with a forwardly projecting arm looselyconnected with the hook, said rock-shaft being provided with rearwardlyextending arms, and shafts mounted on the car and connected with therearwardly extending arms of the rock-shaft, substantially as and forthe purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILE S. MILLER.

Witnesses:

J M. ARMSTRONG, O. E. LAWTON.

